Maldives

Antique Maps of the Maldives

Maps of the Maldives are closely tied to the practical needs of Indian Ocean navigation. Because the archipelago is formed of low-lying atolls surrounded by reefs, early and later cartography often appears as nautical charts emphasising safe passages, soundings, anchorages and coastal hazards.

European mapmakers and hydrographers progressively improved the depiction of the atoll chains as maritime surveying advanced. The Maldives also appear on broader Indian Ocean and East Indies maps produced by major atlas publishers, where their placement and naming reflect changing European knowledge and trade-route priorities.

Original antique Maldives maps are valued for their rarity, their association with maritime history and their distinctive cartographic form, often combining clean engraved detail with highly functional chart design.